File under “bands that should’ve been more popular” in the Nineties and Dada is on the short list. I finally got to see this awesome LA trio live. They were passing through Austin to celebrate their debut album Puzzle turning 25 (I accidentally put it under my 1993 compilation since you couldn’t find it easily until 1993). Back in the day, everything was all about Nirvana so the labels put all their energy into finding another Grunge act while I’m glad IRS Records bucked the trend. Sadly, Dada was the last major act IRS handled as others disbanded or left for bigger labels: REM to Warner Brothers, Go Gos disbanded in 1985, Wall of Voodoo before the 1990s, Concrete Blonde went to Capitol, the whole English Beat stuff kept turning into smaller acts until being dropped and Let’s Active disbanded by 1990.
I wouldn’t say Dada live is for everyone. Joie, Michael and Phil like to jam, draw out some of their songs while throwing in others at the bridge; “Satisfaction” and the James Bond theme. They also took a little break for Joie and Phil’s side band 7Horse, see below, those would be the songs on the right side/margin. Their cover choices were amusing too, “One” which was written by Harry Nilsson but better known through Three Dog Night’s cover and “California Dreaming” by the Mamas & Papas at the encore before they closed the show with “Dorina.”
They did a couple of my personal favorites as you see, “Bob the Drummer” and “Dog.” No luck with “Posters,” “Trip With My Dad,” “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” and I highly doubt they ever do “I’m Feeling Nothing” from The Brady Bunch Movie. Other great news, Dada will be returning with a whole new album! They’re currently selling a single on vinyl but they promised next year we shall see Dada’s return with a sixth studio album.
Now c’mon Helen, sing “Dim” with me.
